Leaf-holder for books



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1. S. G. THOMPSON.

LEAP HOLDER FOR BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, 8w.

ATTORNEY.

1 I l l l I l l I l l I l l l l l I l l I I l ll Patented Aug. 30, 1887.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

S. G. THOMPSON. LEAF HOLDER FOR BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, 8m.

Np. 369,217. PatentedAug.30',1887.;

WITN SSES: I INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY O. THOMPSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

LEAF-HOLDER FOR BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,217, dated August30, 1887.

Application filed December S, 1886. Serial No. 220,984. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIDNEY O. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLeaf-Holders for Books, Pamphlets, &c., of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to that class of devices which are used toconfine the open leaves of a book fiat and smooth in such open positionand againstaccidentalturning or displacement; and it consists in thecombination, with a flat plate of suitable shape and adaptation to liebehind or under certain of the leaves of the book on either or bothsides of its binding portion, and provided with suitable rigid bearings,which are in the plate at a position outside of its bearing behind orunder the leaves of the book, of arocking rod hung in said rigidbearings and adapted to extend and bear with suitable pressure upon theupper face of the opened leaves, which pressure is secured to the saidrocking rod from the reaction of a suitable spring applied in a properrelation to it, and said bearing-rod to be swung out of such contactwhen desired, all as will hereinafter appear, reference being had'to theaccompanying sheets of drawings, in which leaf-holding devices embodyingthe present invention are carried out.

Figure l is a perspective view of an opened book with aleaf-holderconstructed under the present invention applied to same, securing theleaves open. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the leaf-holder shown in Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a cross section through an opened book with the leafholderapplied thereto, the latter appearing in end elevation with certainparts in section. Fig. 4= is a sectional view on line 4. 4, and Fig. I

5 is a detail sectional view on line 5 5. Fig. 6 is a plan view of aleaf-holder under the present invention, showing a modified form ofconstruction. Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7.

In the drawings, A represents a book consisting of a back or cover, B,and leaves 0.

D is the leaf-holder, of which Eis a flat supporting-plate, and F ayoke-shaped rod. The supporting-plate E is made with a body portion, a,and bifurcatedportions b b,with a space, d, between such parts 66, andthe body per:-

tion a is to lie beyond or outside of the leaves of the book at thefolding and bending pait thereof. These partsb b are to be made ofconsiderable length to give the desired bearing and rigidity to thesupporting-plate E. The plate E at its outer end is provided withvertical ear-pieces ff opposite each other, and

. having holes 9 in them for bearings, in which the yoke-shaped rod F ishung for a rocking movement. This rod is kept from longitudinal movementin and through the bearings by a collar, h, brazed or soldered to therod outside of one of the bearings g, and by a pin, is, at the outsideof the other of the bearings, which pin passes through the thickness ofthe rod, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 8. v

The yoke-shaped arm F, on either outer side of its bearings, continuesin inward and downward extensions F as shown, to a suitable position ofbearing upon the face of the leaves of the book, and the ends of theholding-arms are turned up or curved, as at 1, whereby in their bearingon the leaves the same will not be torn or pierced. As seen in Sheet 1of the drawings, the portion of the yoke-rod F between its bearings g ofthe plate E is straight,

and upon and around it is placed a coiled spring, G, one end, 9', ofwhich is fastened to the rod. F, and the other end of which is fastenedto the plate E, or ear-piece f thereof, in a manner to exert its forceupon the rod F to carry its. arms downwardly to bear with suitablepressure upon the outer face of the leaves of the book when the deviceis in suitable position in relation to the book therefor, as shown inFigs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. The collar h of the rod F has a radialpin, m, and the ear-piecef has a pin or abutment, 12, so placed anddistanced in relation to each other that the rod F is allowed a suitabledownward swing to exert the necessary pressure on the leaves of thebook, as de'scribed, and yet when not in use the rod is prevented froman undue rotation under the reaction or unwinding of the spring G. (SeeFig. 4.)

The plate E,with the ear-pieces f f 2 thereof, is made in one piece ofmetal struck out in the form shown, and the parts f f 2 forming theearpieces turned up at right angles, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

The portion of the device between the car pieeesff" embracing the coiledspring is preferably incloscd by a tubular casing, a", and, whenconstructed as above described, the device is practical, mechanical,cheap, neat, and effective and will not get out of order.

\Vhile a particular method of securing the spring-pressure has beenshown and described, other means of securing such pressure may beemployed-as, for instance, by providing the rod F with a crank or camprojection, p, which works against a plate-spring, q, secured. or madepart of the plate E, as illustrated in Sheet 2 of the drawings.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

1. Thecombination,with the bearing-plateld, shaped and adapted toliebehind and between the leaves of an opened book, pamphlet, &c., oneither side of the binding or folding portion thereof, of a rod, F, hungin rigid bearings of a portion of the plate at a part thereof outside ofits contact with said leaves, which rod has I a spiral spring coiledaround it between such bearings, one end of which is fastened to the rodand the other to a part of the plate E, and having arms F, allconstructed and arranged for contact with the outer face of theuppermost leaves, substantially as described.

2. Alcat-l1ol ler for books, consisting of a plate, 1* .t'ormed with thebody part a and bifurcated parts I) I), having bearings g formed inearpiecesff which are stamped out in one piece with said plate andturned up, and a rod, F, hung in said bearings, to which is applied aspring resistance, and having arms F F, of suitable extent and shape,substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 13th day of September, 1886.

SIDNEY O. THOMPSON.

\Vitnesses:

WM. SEARS BnLLows, 1-5. I'LuIiL'roN.

